To repay kindness and express gratitude for favors received.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Repay kindness or favor.
- Expressing gratitude and reciprocation.
- A traditional virtue of mutual help.
Overview
报恩 (bào ēn) 是一个动词，意为报答恩情。当某人对你施以恩惠、帮助或关怀时，你通过某种方式来回报对方的善意，这种行为就叫做报恩。它不仅仅是物质上的回报，更重要的是精神上的感激和承认。
报恩通常用作动词，后面可以跟名词或代词，表示报答的对象。例如：报答父母的养育之恩、报答老师的教诲之恩、报答朋友的帮助之恩。也可以单独使用，表示一种意愿或行为。
这个词语常见于家庭、师生、朋友、同事等各种人际关系中。在传统故事、文学作品以及日常生活中，人们常常谈论如何报恩。例如，子女报答父母的养育之恩，学生报答老师的教导之恩，或者一个人在遇到困难时得到帮助后，努力回报对方。
与“报答” (bàodá) 意思非常接近，都可以表示回报。但“报恩”更侧重于回报“恩情”，带有更深的情感色彩，强调的是对方的恩惠和自己的感激之情。“回报” (huíbào) 的范围更广，可以指回报任何形式的付出，不一定带有深厚的感情基础，可以是商业上的利益往来，也可以是简单的感谢。
例如：
- 父母的养育之恩，我永远不能忘，一定要好好报答/报恩。
- 他收到了一笔意外之财，决定回报/报答帮助过他的人。
- 这次合作，公司获得了丰厚的回报（这里用“回报”更合适，指经济上的收益）。
Examples
我一定会努力学习，将来好好报答父母的养育之恩。
everydayI will definitely study hard to repay my parents' kindness in raising me in the future.
这位老中医一生行医济世，被乡亲们视为报恩的典范。
formalThis old Chinese physician practiced medicine to help the world his whole life, and was regarded by the villagers as a model of repaying kindness.
多亏你上次帮我，这次我一定帮你报恩！
informalThanks to your help last time, I'll definitely help you out this time to repay the favor!
在古代，士人常感念师友提携之恩，立志以功业报恩。
academicIn ancient times, scholars often felt grateful for the support of their teachers and friends, and resolved to repay their kindness through achievements.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
知恩图报
be grateful and seek to repay
养育之恩
kindness of upbringing
没齿难忘
unforgettable (lit. cannot forget even after teeth fall out)
Often Confused With
'报答' is a more general term for repayment or reciprocation. '报恩' specifically refers to repaying '恩' (ēn), which implies deep kindness, favor, or grace, often with an emotional component.
'回报' often implies a return or reward, which can be material or in kind. It's frequently used in contexts of investment, effort, or service, and doesn't necessarily carry the same emotional weight as '报恩'.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The term '报恩' carries a strong sense of moral obligation and deep gratitude. It is often used in contexts involving significant favors, lifelong support, or profound kindness. While it can be used in everyday conversation, it carries more weight than a simple 'thank you' and suggests a commitment to reciprocate.
Common Mistakes
Confusing '报恩' with '报复' (bàofù - to retaliate/revenge) is a critical error due to the similar pronunciation of the first character. Ensure the context clearly indicates gratitude and repayment, not harm.
Tips
Understand the depth of gratitude
报恩 implies a deep sense of gratitude for significant kindness. It's more than just a simple thank you.
Avoid transactional thinking
While repayment is involved, framing it purely as a transaction can diminish the spirit of '报恩'.
A cornerstone of Chinese culture
The concept of '报恩' is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, emphasizing familial piety and social harmony.
Word Origin
The character '报' (bào) originally depicted someone offering something to a superior, signifying repayment or reporting. '恩' (ēn) refers to kindness, favor, or grace. Together, '报恩' literally means to repay kindness or favor.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, repaying kindness is a fundamental virtue. Filial piety (孝顺) is a prime example, where children are expected to care for and honor their parents to '报恩'. This concept extends to repaying teachers, benefactors, and even society.
Memory Tip
Think of '报' (bào) as 'report' or 'repay' and '恩' (ēn) as 'kindness'. You are 'reporting' your kindness by 'repaying' it. Remember the 'n' sound in 'ēn' links to the 'n' in 'kindness'.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions报恩强调的是回报“恩情”，带有更深的情感和感激。报答的范围更广，可以包括回报任何形式的帮助或付出，不一定带有深厚的情感。
不一定。报恩可以包括物质上的回报，但更重要的是精神上的感激、承认和行动上的支持。例如，一句真诚的感谢，或者在对方需要时伸出援手，都可以是报恩的方式。
当你想表达对别人给予的巨大帮助、关怀或恩惠的感激，并希望通过自己的行动来回报时，就会用到“报恩”。这通常发生在接受了重要的帮助之后。
报恩通常是指接受帮助的一方对施助方表达感激和回报。但这种行为也可能促成一种良性的循环，让受恩者在未来也愿意去帮助他人，传递善意。
Test Yourself
他对我有知遇之恩，我一直想找机会______。
这里指的是回报对方的恩情，所以用“报恩”最合适。
下列哪个句子最能体现“报恩”的含义？
选项b明确提到了“报答父母的养育之恩”，直接表达了报恩的含义。
请用“报恩”、“父母”、“养育”、“之恩”组成一个句子。
选项a结构完整，意思清晰，表达了要报答父母养育之恩的意愿。
Score: /3
Summary
To repay kindness and express gratitude for favors received.
- Repay kindness or favor.
- Expressing gratitude and reciprocation.
- A traditional virtue of mutual help.
Understand the depth of gratitude
报恩 implies a deep sense of gratitude for significant kindness. It's more than just a simple thank you.
Avoid transactional thinking
While repayment is involved, framing it purely as a transaction can diminish the spirit of '报恩'.
A cornerstone of Chinese culture
The concept of '报恩' is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, emphasizing familial piety and social harmony.
Examples
4 of 4我一定会努力学习，将来好好报答父母的养育之恩。
I will definitely study hard to repay my parents' kindness in raising me in the future.
这位老中医一生行医济世，被乡亲们视为报恩的典范。
This old Chinese physician practiced medicine to help the world his whole life, and was regarded by the villagers as a model of repaying kindness.
多亏你上次帮我，这次我一定帮你报恩！
Thanks to your help last time, I'll definitely help you out this time to repay the favor!
在古代，士人常感念师友提携之恩，立志以功业报恩。
In ancient times, scholars often felt grateful for the support of their teachers and friends, and resolved to repay their kindness through achievements.
Related Content
Related Vocabulary
More emotions words
有点
A1A little; somewhat; rather.
可恶
A2Hateful; detestable; abominable.
心不在焉
A2Absent-minded; preoccupied.
接受地
A2Acceptingly; receptively.
成就感
B1Sense of achievement; fulfillment.
撒娇
A2To act like a spoiled child; to act cute.
上瘾
B1To be addicted to something.
沉迷
A2To be addicted to; to be engrossed in.
敬佩
B1Admiration; respect; reverence.
佩服
B1To admire; to respect.
